The detector is used once a risk assessment determines the extra security is needed. (CBC)

A metal detector at the provincial courthouse in Halifax may be turned on permanently.

Justice Minister Cecil Clarke said he's considering using the walk-through detector on a regular basis after hearing about the potential weapons confiscated last week.

"I do recognize that it a matter of concern," he said Monday.

The screening machine is used on a case-by-case basis, following a risk assessment.

It was turned on last Thursday for a high-profile drug trial. Sheriffs seized a number of items, such as knives, a razor blade and a lighter shaped like a handgun.

The Nova Scotia Crown Attorneys Association argues the detector should be used full-time to help ensure the safety of everyone in the courthouse.

Clarke said he wants to meet with a committee that has been looking into security at provincial courthouses before deciding what to do.

"The fact of the matter is we've been working with the court security committee and dealing with concerns as they have arisen. This just heightens the reason why we're doing that review right now," he said.